13th Division (Syrian rebel group)

13th Division
الفرقة 13 Participant in the Syrian Civil War
Insignia of the 13th Division.
Active	2013–present
Ideology	Syrian nationalism
Groups	56th Infantry Brigade Knights of Justice Brigade (former, 2013) Maarat al-Nu'man Martyrs Brigade Ansar al-Haq Brigade
Leaders	Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad al-Sa’oud Zaher al-Ahmad (POW) Abdul Karim Alito †
Headquarters	Ma'arrat al-Numan
Area of operations	Idlib Governorate Hama Governorate Aleppo Governorate
Strength	1,800+ (own claim)
Part of	Free Syrian Army Fatah Halab Free Idlib Army
Allies	Saudi Arabia Turkey Qatar Ahrar ash-Sham
Opponents	Syrian Armed Forces National Defense Force Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Al-Nusra Front (since late 2014) Jund al-Aqsa Syrian Democratic Forces
Battles and wars	Syrian Civil War Idlib Governorate clashes (2014) Battle of Mork Battle of Aleppo Second Siege of Wadi Deif Al-Nusra Front-SRF/Hazzm Movement conflict Russian military intervention in the Syrian Civil War Inter-rebel conflict during the Syrian Civil War Second Battle of Maarat al-Nu'man Turkish military intervention in Syria Idlib Governorate clashes (January 2017)

Syrian Civil War

The 13th Division (Arabic: الفرقة 13‎‎) is a Syrian rebel group sanctioned by the Syrian National Council. It was among the first armed Syrian opposition groups to receive U.S.-made BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missiles. The group's leader Ahmad al-Sa’oud said during an interview that the missiles were provided by the Friends of Syria, which also (according to al-Sa'oud) provided training on how to use the advanced weaponry. According to a spokesperson for the FSA's Supreme Military Council, the 13th Division is funded by sources within Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The 13th Division originated in March 2012 under the name ‘Liwa Ibad al-Rahman’ and grew that year to 1,000 men according to its leader Ahmad al-Saoud. In 2013 the group was incorporated into the Free Syrian Army as the 13th Division.

In December 2013, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) overran a Division 13 base in Kafr Nabl, seizing ammunition and weaponry. This came after a history of clashes between the two groups. The following day, Lieutenant Colonel Ahmad Al-Sa’oud was ambushed and kidnapped in Taftanaz by ISIS while he was trying to negotiate for their return. He was released after two weeks. The group is currently fighting the Syrian government and ISIS.

The group fought in Khan al-Asal, the Rashideen neighbourhood, and the Research Sciences Centre in Aleppo. In Idlib and Hama Governorates, the 13th Division fought at Mork, Khan Shaykhun, Heish, Qumeis, Baboulin, Wadi Al-Deif military base and Al-Hamdiyyeh military base.

On 6 May 2015, along with 13 other Aleppo-based groups, joined the Fatah Halab joint operations room.